European Good Practices in shaping societal attitudes towards homosexuals

1. European Good Practices in shaping societal attitudes towards homosexuals

2. Stands for „Transfer of Information Against the Discrimination of Gays and Lesbians in Europe” • Carried out within the Community Action Programme to Combat Discrimination” of the EU

3. Partners • Ministry of Health, Social Development, Women and Family Affaires in the Land of North Rhine-Westphalia • Antidiscrimination Bureau for Same-Sex Lifestyles of the City of Vienna • Arcigay/Arcilesbica-Italy • Empowerment Lifestyle Services – Netherlands • Pro Choix – network • Rutgers Nisso Group – Netherlands • Schlau NRW – Germany • Schorer – Netherlands

4. Needs analysis • 65 % of the repondents wanted to know how to teach about homosexuality in a classroom or in other groups of teenagers • 54 % of the repondents needed advice on how to deal with homophobic attitudes. • 46 % replied that they did not know how to empower gay and lesbian pupils and clients • 91% of repsondents in the psycho social health sector replied that they are lacking of confidence in their own knowledge about homosexuality in cultural or ethnic minority groups • 61 % of the respondents reported that they find it difficult to adequately recognize problems related to homosexual preference and that they need information about the coming – out process

5. Development of a manual • As a tool to combat discrimination especially among young people • Offering advice and methods for training and consciousness-raising sessions • For teachers, educators and psycho social counsellors

6. Establishment of national linkage boards In the linkage Boards in each country experts of the envisaged target groups – teachers and counsellors – met. Their task was to accompany the development of the TRIANGLE manual with their experiences and competences.

8. content • Brochure • Theme guides

9. Brochure • Introduction • Theory part • Annex including a bibliography, adresses and a glossary

10. Theme guides • Coming Out and Identities • Sexualities • Relationships • The Community • Different Lifestyles • History and Culture • Mental an Social Well beeing • Different Religions • Gay-specific Counselling

11. Theme guides devided into two sections • adressing teachers/educators • and counsellors

12. Sections • Stories related to the topic of the specific guide • Framework (introduction, basic information, strategies/approaches) • „bearing in mind“ (questions for self-reflexion and preperation) • Frequently asked questions • Tools

13. Presentation of the manual in Austria • Pursuant to the Austrian school curriculum teachers are not obliged to adress homosexuality in school • presentations infront of teachers with the purpose to discuss within which subjects the topic could be adressed

14. To order or download under http://www.triangle-info.de

15. background Many migrants have in particular problems with their coming-out. They experience discrimination in Germany and in their communities. Often they are threatened to be disposed into marriage or to be expelled by their families

16. activities • Miles offers counselling and support for lesbians and gays having and their families • Supports support groups • Is engaged in awareness raising acitivites adressing in particular migrant communities

17. HVALA !